Another simple question

jmdeegan · 04-01-2008, 03:58 PM

i always like to clarify. sadly, some folks miss jokes nowadays

glad i could offer some input. definetly not knocking the pentax flashes (seeing as I own one), but definetly like the vivitar dial as opposed to the 360 and it's LCD. I am sure if I had the time to really pour through the manual, it would make a lot more sense, but I spent a day tinkering on and off with settings and reading the manual....and was still not really at east with it (but on the flip side, in under an hour, I was pretty comfy with the vivitar)

best of luck

NYpHoToGraphEr · 04-01-2008, 04:07 PM

A little confused though,
the Pentax 540 is around $327 and the Sigma 530 is around $254.
It seems also that the Sigma is way more powerful.

Anyway I think even though the Pentax looks cooler and is
smaller I would go with the Sigma.

jmdeegan · 04-01-2008, 07:50 PM

without checking strengths myself, i'd say look at the vivitar and sunpak @ adorama. under 100 bucks

plus i thought elsewhere on the board we had folks with issues with the sigma flashes

plus, if it were me (with a do-over), i could get 2 or 3 viv's plus remote triggers, for one 360. the swivel the 540 does isn't too useful since i almost never have a flash on-camera anyways

nothing wrong with saving money....just, to me 85 looks better than 200 plus

mattdm · 04-01-2008, 08:00 PM

Originally posted by NYpHoToGraphEr

A little confused though,
the Pentax 540 is around $327 and the Sigma 530 is around $254.
It seems also that the Sigma is way more powerful.

It's not. Going by stated numbers, it's about 80% of the power at 50mm. See this thread for more details.

And hey, I just noticed that the prices you list are about the same difference. If you want P-TTL bang for the buck, though, the much cheaper non-Super Sigma flash might be an option. Same power, but fewer features.

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04-01-2008, 03:58 PM	#16
jmdeegan Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: nyc Photos: Gallery Posts: 564	i always like to clarify. sadly, some folks miss jokes nowadays glad i could offer some input. definetly not knocking the pentax flashes (seeing as I own one), but definetly like the vivitar dial as opposed to the 360 and it's LCD. I am sure if I had the time to really pour through the manual, it would make a lot more sense, but I spent a day tinkering on and off with settings and reading the manual....and was still not really at east with it (but on the flip side, in under an hour, I was pretty comfy with the vivitar) best of luck

04-01-2008, 04:07 PM	#17
NYpHoToGraphEr Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brooklyn,NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 329 Original Poster	A little confused though, the Pentax 540 is around $327 and the Sigma 530 is around $254. It seems also that the Sigma is way more powerful. Anyway I think even though the Pentax looks cooler and is smaller I would go with the Sigma.

04-01-2008, 07:50 PM	#18
jmdeegan Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: nyc Photos: Gallery Posts: 564	without checking strengths myself, i'd say look at the vivitar and sunpak @ adorama. under 100 bucks plus i thought elsewhere on the board we had folks with issues with the sigma flashes plus, if it were me (with a do-over), i could get 2 or 3 viv's plus remote triggers, for one 360. the swivel the 540 does isn't too useful since i almost never have a flash on-camera anyways nothing wrong with saving money....just, to me 85 looks better than 200 plus

04-01-2008, 08:00 PM	#19
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by NYpHoToGraphEr A little confused though, the Pentax 540 is around $327 and the Sigma 530 is around $254. It seems also that the Sigma is way more powerful. It's not. Going by stated numbers, it's about 80% of the power at 50mm. See this thread for more details. And hey, I just noticed that the prices you list are about the same difference. If you want P-TTL bang for the buck, though, the much cheaper non-Super Sigma flash might be an option. Same power, but fewer features.